The Ransom of Dr. Dave
Part 26
At Dave's apartment, after a lengthy phone conversation Jing-Mei hangs the phone up and prepares to leave to make the necessary arrangements when there's a knock at the door. Jing-Mei answers it.
Jing-Mei: May I help you?
Mr. Santini: Yes, I'm the landlord, Salvador Santini. I saw the lights on. I thought it seemed strange since no one has been in this apartment for months.
Jing-Mei: Dr. Malucci is a co-worker of mine and my boyfriend. I'm Dr. Jing-Mei Chen.
Mr. Santini: Sorry, we're not use to seeing an Asian in Little Italy(Dave's neighborhood name) Shame what happened to the boy. He's a good doctor. Fixed my back problem. Haven't had a single problem with it since he aligned the disc. As a matter fact, he takes care of everyone in Little Italy medically for free. I'm not going to get the boy in trouble for telling you that, am I? What can I do for you?
Jing-Mei: No, you won't. I just needed to get a phone number for Dr. Dave.
Mr. Santini: How's the boy doing?
Jing-Mei: He's critical. Still in a deep coma but we're all praying for him.
Mr. Santini: I've called the hospital to see if I could get into visit him, but they said only immediate family. Could you tell him that everyone in the building is holding good thoughts for him and saying our own prayers every night that he comes back. We're all keeping an eye on his apartment.
Jing-Mei: I definitely will. But I have to go now. It was nice meeting you Mr. Santini.
Jing-Mei gathers her things up and prepares to leave when Mr. Santini stops in the doorway and turns around to face Jing-Mei.
Mr. Santini: I know this isn't the time to bring this up, but, I had to raise the rent over two months ago. I get a check in the mail that covers Dr. Dave's rent but since I raised it he's fallen a little shy of the total amount and I know this isn't his fault and he's been sick, well everyone in the neighborhood has been taken up a collection to make the difference.
Jing-Mei: That's very nice of you.
Mr. Santini: We figured it was the least we could do after all the free medical care he's been giving us. We owe him a lot but the people, myself included, can't afford to pay much and Dr. Dave knows that. I guess he's in the same financial boat as we are so he understands.
Jing-Mei: Yes, as a resident he doesn't get paid very much and thank god he had the foresight to apply for long-term disability insurance when he was first hired. That's part of the check you've been getting every month. He made sure if something happened to him that kept him out of work for a long period of time, incapacitated, that whatever the state didn't take out of his disability check to pay his child support that it goes to pay his rent so that at least he'd still have a home to come to.
Mr. Santini: Child support for Rusty. (pointing to a picture on the mantle)
Jing-Mei: You know Rusty?
Mr. Santini: Know of him. Dr. Dave talks about him all the time. He really loves that boy and is extremely proud of him, but there's a sadness in him when he talks about him. Sometimes, I think I see tears forming in his eyes but he turns away from me and changes the subject.
Jing-Mei: That's my Dave. Ignore your feelings and that makes the pain less. Huh, bullshit. That's amazing. Dave told me that he's never even seen his son. I wonder how he knows so much about him.
Mr. Santini: He's never met him in person only seen him in the pictures that his sister, Sophie sends him in her letters.
Jing-Mei: Do you know Sophie?
Mr. Santini: Yes, beautiful girl. I use to live in the same village with them in Italy.
Jing-Mei(holding her head down and getting very quiet): So you know about their...Dave's fath...
Mr. Santini(interrupting): Yes, I know about that mobster mother-fucker.
Jing-Mei: You knew and didn't do anything to help Dave and his sister?
Mr. Santini: I regret it everyday, especially when I see Dave. But you definitely did not want to mess with Vincenzio Malucci if you wanted to see the light of day. (pause) I had a family of my own to think about. I couldn't risk their lives. Dr. Dave understood. He said he didn't want to put anyone in danger because of him. He couldn't live with himself if someone innocent was hurt or killed defending him. After all, he saw his mother die for that same reason.
Jing-Mei: I know about his mother's murder. (pause, looking at her watch)
Mr. Santini: I guess that's why Dr. Dave hasn't been a part of his own son's life, because of his father. Sad, very sad. But, listen to me I'm keeping you from work, sorry.
Jing-Mei: No you're not. I'm on maternity leave but I do want to get back to Dave at the hospital. Listen, Mr. Santini I will get back to you about the increase in Dave's rent and make up the difference. Thank everyone for their help, from me and Dave. I know he appreciates it.
Mr. Santini(taking her hand and shaking it): I wish there was more we could do for that poor boy. Tell him hello and as soon as he's allowed visitors we'll be there in droves to see him.
Jing-Mei nods in response and both she and Mr. Santini leave Dave's apartment, locking the door behind them.
Later that day, Jing-Mei is in her usual spot next to Dave's bed holding his hand and talking to him.
Jing-Mei: Dave, sweetheart, I went by your apartment today to check on things and I met your landlord, Mr. Santini.(pause) He's a very nice man. He told me to say hello from him and all of Little Italy. They're all worried about you and are praying for you. They've been keeping an eye on your apartment for you and took up a colle...(stopping before she could finish, knowing that Dave's male pride would never let him accept their money if he knew about it) You have a wonderful bunch of neighbors. They really love you and think highly of you as a doctor. (pause)Mr. Santini also told me what you did for them, the doctoring for free. I'm very proud of you and so will our child. Speaking of which, I'm going to my first Lamaze class tonight.(pause) It's at 8:00. Carter will be off at 7:30 and he's going with me. You are alright with that, aren't you? (pause) Since, we did agree that he was going to be the godfather, he should have a part in the baby's life. By the way, I saw the picture of Rusty on your mantle at your apartment. I guess I never noticed it before when I was there. He's a handsome boy just like his daddy. Spitting image of you. I wish you were more a part of his life and I want you to be a large part in raising our child. It's going to need your influence and besides who's going to teach it how to make pizza if you're not there...
Carter enters Dave's room.
Carter: Oh god. Malucci cook. That I'd like to see myself.
Jing-Mei: Hi John, It's not 7:30 yet.
Carter: I know. I'm on my break and figured you could use a break yourself. Why don't you go home and get some rest or something to eat. I'll sit with him for awhile.
Jing-Mei: I'm really not tired and I just ate before I came back up here. (pause) But actually, there is something I have to do. You will sit with him for me?
Carter: Sure, uh where will you be? Just in case we have to get in touch with you.
Jing-Mei: You'll find out soon enough. I'll check back in and won't be gone for long. (pause) John, thank you for going to the Lamaze class with me tonight. Don't take this personally, but I want Dave to be the one in the delivery room with me. But if he can't, then you're the next best thing. You were there when I had Michael.
Carter: I know and Dave should be with you when you bring his child into the world and I don't take it personally.
Jing-Mei kisses Dave's head and bids him and Carter goodbye. Carter sits in the seat that Jing-Mei just got out of.
Carter: I know I should have come up here a lot sooner but it took me this long to get up the courage to face you, Dave. (pause) This is all my fault, despite what everyone tells me. I know I'm to blame for all the hell and shit you've gone through including the attempts on your life. You once told me that you owed me for setting you up with Deb. But I'm the one who owes you big time and if it takes me the rest of my life, I will make it up to you. If there is anything you ever need or want for yourself, Deb or the baby just ask. You never have to worry about Deb or the baby, I'm looking after them since the cops are no closer to finding the pussys that did this to you. If I ever get my hands on them, I'll...(pause) Malucci, I don't want you to think that I'm trying to take your place in Deb and the baby's lives, I would never do that. (pause) Come on Dave, open your eyes. You've slept enough. It's time to wake up, pal. Dr. Weaver, won't admit it but she misses you and wants you back. I think she misses chasing you around the ER and she definitely misses being the but of your practical jokes. You, without doubt, kept her on her toes. (pause) Well, I....
Dave's nurse enters his room.
Nurse: Sorry Dr. Carter, it's time to suction Dr. Malucci.
Carter: Alright. (to Dave) Well, I know I promised Deb I'd sit with you until she got back, but you know, doctors get chased out of the rooms, too. Besides, I have to get back to the ER before Weaver comes looking for me. I don't want to take your place in her life either.
As Carter walks out the door, he turns to the nurse just in time to see her putting the suctioning tube down Malucci's throat and trying to hold back the tears, he rushes to the nearest bathroom and throws up still unable to see his friend in that critical condition when he knows it should be him.
A few hours later, Jing-Mei returns to the ER and stops at the admit desk.
Jing-Mei: Jerry, any messages?
Jerry: No, Dr. Chen. Sorry, were you expecting someone to call?
Jing-Mei: Yes, I guess they haven't received it yet?
Jerry: Received what?
Jing-Mei: Thank you Jerry. You will let me know if anyone calls?
Jerry nods disappointedly that he wasn't able to get anymore information out of her. Carter walks up to her along with several other co-workers.
Carter: There you are. I thought you said you weren't going to be gone very long. I had to leave Dave's side because they were suctioning him and I had to get back to work.
Jing-Mei: Sorry, John. What I was doing took longer than I thought. How was Dave when you left him?
Carter: The same. No change.
Kerry: So, what were you doing, shopping for baby things?
Jing-Mei: No, not really. It took me all afternoon everyone, but I finally did it.
Abby: Did what?
Jing-Mei: I found the perfect house for Dave, myself and the new baby.
Carter: You bought a house without Dave.
Jing-Mei: Yes, but I had no choice.
Mark: No choice?
Jing-Mei: I stopped over at Dave's apartment and spoke with his landlord. They raised Dave's rent. His disability check doesn't cover it completely, now. His neighbors have taken up a collection to pay the difference. I told his landlord that I would start to pay the difference but I had a better idea.
Kerry: You bought a house for the two of you.
Jing-Mei: No, I rented a house for the three of us. It seemed like the right thing to do. Anyway, it will be easier to take care of Dave if I'm living with him and easier for the guards to protect him. It's the perfect house to raise a family in, and I mean the PERFECT house.
Carter: What do you mean perfect? Is it in a good neighborhood.?
Jing-Mei: Yes. It's on the southside of Chicago, but that's not what I'm talking about when I say perfect. Dave's apartment has only stairs--no elevators.
Abby: So. Mine doesn't either. Most of those old apartment buildings don't.
Jing-Mei: It's different for you though, Abby. (pause) When Dave gets out of the hospital, he's not going to be able to manage stairs for quite some time. This house is one level and fully wheelchair accessible. There's even a space right out front for handicap parking. It was for sale by a guy in a wheelchair which is exactly what we need. After all, Dave is going to be confined to a wheelchair for a good amount of time until his spinal and leg fractures heal. Right.
Carter: Right.(pause) It's just hard referring to Dave Malucci has handicapped, but I guess he is... or will be for awhile.
The phone rings at the admit desk.
Jerry: Cook County ER. (pause) She's right here. Dr. Chen, I think this is the phone call you've waiting for.
Jing-Mei(taking the phone from Jerry): Thanks, Jerry. Dr. Chen, here.(pause) Yes. Did you get it? (pause) Any trouble with the... I knew my family's influence would work. Alright, I'll see you then. (pause) Goodbye.
Mark: What was all that about, if you don't mind my asking?
Jing-Mei: No, that's quite alright. In fact everyone, if everything works out, that just might be the medicine that Dave needs to save his life and get better.
To be continued. Please read and review.